Tilting animal chute



Get. 45, 1949. R. c. KEIRSEY 2,483,809

TILTING ANIMAL CHUTE Filed Jan. 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 In veil torzavernz C (airway Get. 4-, 1949. R. c. KEIRSEY 2,483,999

TILTING ANIMAL CHUTE Filed Jan. 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet I R. C. KEIRSEYTILTING ANIMAL CHUTE Oct. 4, 1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 29, 1945 Inventor P2252722 C 1667x5554Attorney;

Patented Oct. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a tilting chute, and more particularly to sucha chute adapted for the holding of live stock, such as calves, in fixedposition, for branding, dehorning, or other operations to be performedthereon.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved chuteadapted to securely retain the calf or other animal in position therein,and provided with means whereby the same may be tilted in such wise thatthe animal may be positioned on its side for operation thereon.

An additional important object of the invention is the provision of animproved pivoted gate adapted to hold the animals head securely inposition for dehorning, or the like.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such atiltin chute having in association therewith a leg separator, and a,holder, adapted to separate the animals rear legs and hold them fixedlyin separated position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in such adevice of a back rest or support, adapted to be positioned against theback of the animal, to prevent the animal from sliding too far outwardlywith respect to the securing members, comprising a portion of thisinvention, when the chute is tilted.

A further important objectof the invention is the provision of such achute provided With interchangeable parts, whereby the same may beconveniently utilized to place the animal on either its right or leftside for branding or analogous operations.

A further object is the provision of such a device, which is relativelycompact and small in size, whereby the same may be convenientlytransported.

A still further object resides in the provision of such a device whichwill be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient inoperation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture andassemble.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements ofparts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointedout hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein thereis shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of device embodying the instantinventive concept.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the opposite side of the device.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the dev1ce.

Figure 5 is an isometric view, and

Figure 5A is a fragmentary, detailed perspective view of the back restof the device, and the mounting therefor.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a construc tional detail.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout severalviews of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, the device of the instantinvention is comprised of a frame, generally indicated as ll], whichincludes a base i I from the opposite sides of which extend a pair ofuprights l2. Extending between the uprights i2 is a shaft 53, upon whichis pivotally mounted a tiltable side plate or member, generallyindicated as It, and a rotatable gate, generally indicated as l5, bothof which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Extending transversely. from each of the uprights 52 is a horizontalsupporting bar I 6 terminating in an upri ht H, the lower extremity ofeach of which is secured adjacent a corner of the rectangular base ll.Diagonally disposed reinforcing member !8 xtends between the innerextremities of the members 55 and the lower extremity of the members ll.

The tiltable plate [4 is comprised, as best shown. in Figure 2, of aframe 20, adapted to be covered by a wall portion 2!, which may beconstructed of sheet metal, or the like, to contain the animal in thechute. Reinforcing bars 22 extend transversely across the member M, andare each provided, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, with extendingbrackets 23, secured thereto and including collars 24 adapted tosurround the main axle 53, in such manner that the device may be rotatedabout the axle i3 from a full line position shown in Figure 2 to thatindicated in dotted lines in Figure 4.

The lower portion of the plate I4 is provided with an extending plate ormember 25 to which is pivotally secured as by a pivot rod 26, a squeezeside generally indicated as 21. As best shown in Figure 3, the squeezeside 21 includes a pair of frame members 28, to the upper extremity ofwhich are pivoted, as by a pivot 29 (see Figure 4), a pair of extendingbars 30 provided with notches 3 I, and connected at their extremities bya transverse bar 32. The members 30 are adapted to extend throughsuitable apertures 33 (see Figure 5) in the plate l4, and the notches 3|are adapted to be engaged with the upper trans verse bar of the framemember 20, to secure the squeeze side 21 in adjusted position, for apurpose and in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

The upper portion of the plate I4 is provided with a metallic handlemember 36, adapted to be grasped for tilting the device in a manner andfor a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

The squeeze side 21 is provided at an intermediate portion with' a door,generally indicated as 40, andcomprised of two separable sections-4| and42 hinged as at 43 and 44, respectively, and

provided with a latch member 45 pivoted as at 46 to door section 42 andremovably engaged-with a catch i! on door section 4| to hold'the doormembers 4| and 42 in closed position, butreleasable in order to permitthe door to .be opened when desired.

Having reference now to the gate member. |5,

as best shown in Figures 1 and 5, it will be seen that this isco-mprisedof a roughly semi-circular member, provided with an arcuate cut-awayportion 50, adaptedtoengage .theneck of -a calf, or similar animal,. andpaddedas at 5| to prevent injury to. the animal. A. collar 52 isprovided surrounding a suitable aperturein a centralportionofthestraight face of the gate member: l5, and is adapted tosurround the aXle-:|3 fr pivotalmovement thereabout. The lower extremityof the member terminates. in a lug 53 provided with a pin 54 adapted. toengage successively in serrations .55 in a projecting member 56, securedto the frame |0.- Suitable slots are provided in. member I4, in order topermit swinging passageof the gate member l5 therethrough.

A back-rest, generally indicated at 6|], is also provided in order toaccommodate calves, or other live stock of various heights, andprecludetheir slipping out of the device when the same is tilted. The back.rest.60 takes the form of a transversely. extending plate 6 positionedadjacent theupper. extremity ofthe member I4 and on the side thereofadjacent thesqueezeside 21, to which are secured a pairof uprights 62,provided with serrations 53; adaptedto engage pin 64 carried by thehandle member36. Acompression spring 65 extends between theupperextremity of one of uprights 62. on thesideadjacent the serrationsand an opposite corner of the frame member 20, thus biasing the devicetoward the pin 64, to hold it in adjusted position.

Means are also provided in associationwith the'device for separating therear legs-of the animal for doctoring, and for securely holding theanimal in position. Such means. take the form of an extending bar or rod61, provided at its lower extremity with a transverse pin 69 adapted tobe secured alternatively to suitable brackets Ti in the frame IE} andserve as a pivot for the lever. A loop or bond 68 is provided to permitthe device to pass around the main axle l3. A handle haspivotallysecured, adjacent thereto;as"on a pivot?! 'a'latch member 12.biased by a'sprin'g 13 towards the handle member 36"for latchingthereover.

The lower portion of the rod or lever fills provicled'witha'transversely extending-bar '15 from whichtwo protruding arms 16 extendat right angles, and are Jadapted'to pass through suitable apertures '18in the wall of the member l4; and pass between the legs-of the animalbeing .held in the device.

Suitable -latch means 18!! .areprovided for'holding, the devicein.tilted position, .and=take the form,. .as. best shown in Figured, of=brackets- 8| extending upwardly from the members It to which arepivotally secured as by pivots 82, latch members 83, biased as bysprings 84 in towards latching engagement with the top rail of the framemember l4 when the same is in tilted position. Either one or two ofthese latch members may be provided as desired.

A guide board is also provided adapted to have its lower extremitysecured to the pin 26 as 'by means of hook 9| and its upper extremitysecured as bya rod 92to the upper extremity of the tiltable side platel4.

From the foregoing the method of the operation and the use of the deviceshould now be readily understandable. When it is desired to operate on acalf or other animal, the same is driven between the side plate is andthe squeeze side 2'1, until its neck passes within the arcuate padded".interior surface of the gate 5|, which gate is then swung about the axlel3 until the animals neck isheld firmly against the side. plate member Il. The device is then latched in position .by engagement of the pin 54with one of the serrations 55 of member 56. The squeeze side 21 is thenrotated about pivot point 26 until the body of the animal is firmlyclamped between the sides of the device, the latching members 3|engagingthe frame 20 of the plate l4, .an'd'the back rest 66 is suitablyadjusted, until the same seats firmly against the back of the animal.The leg separating member 5'! is then biased from the position shown indotted lines in Figure 4 to that shown in full lines, whereupon thearms'or projections l6 serve to separate the legs of the animal, andhold them in separated position.

Thus, it will be seen that the animal is firmly held in the device insuch manner as to be incapable of movement in any direction. The deviceis then tilted to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, andthe upper transverse frame member 2% of the side plate I4 is engaged bythe latch 83, thus tilting the animal to its side and making all partsof the body thereof readily available for operation as desired. The headof the calf is in convenient position for dehorning, or the like, andthe body portion of the calf may be readily reached by opening the gatesordoors 40 for branding or other operations.

Obviously, the-device may be utilized for operation on eitherthe rightor left-hand side of the calf or-similar animal by merely changing theposition of the gate member |5 to the opposite end of the device, andcorrespondingly reversing the position of the leg separating memberfil,and the guide board 90.

Equally obviously, the device may be madein any desired size toaccommodate anydesired size of animal, and of any suitable material.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved tilting-chute, adapted to securely hold a calf orother animalduring the performance of operation, of any desired sort, whichaccomplishes all of the objects of this invention and others, inchldingmany ad vantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As'many embodiments may bemade'of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpretedmerely'as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described in combination, a frame,acmainaxle thereon; a

side member pivotally secured on said axle for rotation thereabout, asqueeze side pivotally secured to said side member, a gate secured tosaid axle and swingable thereabout to engage the neck of an animal, andsaid gate having an arcuate outer edge and formed with a padded,arcuate, neck engaging aperture therein.

2. In a device of the character described in combination, a frame, amain axle thereon, a side member pivotally secured on said axle forrotation thereabout, a squeeze side pivotally secured to said sidemember, a gate secured to said axle and swingable thereabout to engagethe neck of an animal, said gate having an outer arcuate edge and formedwith a padded, arcuate, neck engaging aperture therein, and latch meansselectively holding said gate in adjusted position.

3. In a device of the character described in combination, a frame, amain axle thereon, a side member pivotally secured on said axle forrotation thereabout, a squeeze side pivotally secured to said sidemember, a gate secured to said axle and swingable thereabout to engagethe neck of an animal, and a leg catch adapted to separate the rear legsof an animal secured between said side member and said squeeze side.

4. In a device of the character described in combination, a frame, amain axle thereon, a side member pivotally secured on said axle forrotation thereabout, a squeeze side pivotally secured to said sidemember, a gate secured to said axle and swingable thereabout to engagethe neck of an animal, and a leg catch adapted to separate the rear legsof an animal secured between said side member and said squeeze side,said catch including a bar having projecting arms thereon pivotallysecured to the lower portion of said frame.

5. In a device of the character described in combination, a frame, amain axle thereon, a side member pivotally secured on said axle forrotation thereabout, a squeeze side pivotally secured to said sidemember, a gate secured to said axle and swingable thereabout to engagethe neck of an animal, and a leg catch adapted to separate the rear legsof an animal secured between said side member and said squeeze side,said catch including a bar having projecting arms thereon pivotallysecured to the lower portion of said frame, and latch means on said barengageable with said side member.

6. In a device of the character described in combination, a frame, amain axle thereon, a side plate pivotally secured on said axle forrotation thereabout, a squeeze side pivotally secured to said sideplate, a gate secured to said axle and swingable thereabout to engagethe neck of an animal, said gate having an outer arcuate edge and formedwith a padded, arcuate, neck engaging aperture therein, a leg catchadapted to separate the rear legs of an animal secured between saidsides, and a back support secured to the top of said side plate.

7. A chute for confining animals comprising a frame, a main axlethereon, a side member pivotally secured on said axle for rotationthereabout, a base for the side member, a squeeze side pivotally securedto the base, a gate having an animal neck-engaging notch secured to theaxle and rotatable thereabout, and releasable means for securing thesqueeze side with relation to the side member.

8. A chute for confining animals comprising a frame, a main axlethereon, a side member pivotally secured on said axle for rotationthereabout, a base for the side member, a squeeze side pivotally securedto the base, a gate having an animal neck-engaging notch secured to theaxle and r0- tatable thereabout, latch means for securing the gate inadjusted position, and releasable means for securing the squeeze sidewith relation to the side member.

9. A chute for confining animals comprising a 0 frame, a main axlethereon, a side member pivotally secured on said axle for rotationthereabout, a base for the side member, a squeeze side pivotally securedto the base, a gate having an animal neckengaging notch secured to theaxle and rotatable thereabout, latch means for securing the gate inadjusted position including a pin on the gate releasably engageable witha notched extension on the frame, and releasable means for securing thesqueeze side with relation to the side member.

ROBERT C. KEIRSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,135,004 Flatley Apr. 13, 19151,388,258 Hasty Aug. 23, 1921 1,455,101 Barlow May 15, 1923 2,000,122Cameron May 7, 1935 2,084,255 Johnson June 15, 1937 2,268,707Huckelbridge Jan. 6, 1942

